St. Andrew's Rovers FC
Encyclopedia
St. Andrew's Rovers FC was a 19th century rugby football
club. It was formed by people of Scottish origin
living in London, and is notable for being both one of the earliest football clubs (of any code) and also for its part in the formation of London Scottish FC.
badge. The teams colours were blue jerseys with a white cross of St. Andrew and club initials on the breast, blue stockings and white knickerbockers.
Despite its early foundation, the club was not one of the twenty-one London and suburban football clubs that assembled at the Pall Mall Restaurant
in Cockspur Street
to found the Rugby Football Union
.
The club played its football at the Peckham Rye
.
It was not affiliated to the Rugby Football Union
or the Scottish Football Union
, because at this time neither body was in existence.
and Queen's House Football Club
. They also played St Andrew's Rovers that season. St Andrew's, who had lost the core of their best players lost twice to London Scottish and folded at the end of the season.
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
club. It was formed by people of Scottish origin
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
living in London, and is notable for being both one of the earliest football clubs (of any code) and also for its part in the formation of London Scottish FC.
History
St. Andrew's Rovers was established in 1869 with about forty members. It fielded two teams of twenty a side for rugby matches. The derivation of the club's name appears to have been lost in the mists of time, though it may have been founded by men of Scottish heritage. The fact that the club changed at the "Edinborough Castle" public house and Nunhead Lane may be indicative of the fact the men who founded the club used that particular establishment and therefore the association with St Andrew and Edinburgh. It certainly sported a St Andrew's FlagFlag of Scotland
The Flag of Scotland, , also known as Saint Andrew's Cross or the Saltire, is the national flag of Scotland. As the national flag it is the Saltire, rather than the Royal Standard of Scotland, which is the correct flag for all individuals and corporate bodies to fly in order to demonstrate both...
badge. The teams colours were blue jerseys with a white cross of St. Andrew and club initials on the breast, blue stockings and white knickerbockers.
Despite its early foundation, the club was not one of the twenty-one London and suburban football clubs that assembled at the Pall Mall Restaurant
Pall Mall Restaurant
The Pall Mall Restaurant was a hostelry situated at Number 1 Cockspur Street, Westminster, London, just off Pall Mall and near Trafalgar Square...
in Cockspur Street
Cockspur Street
Cockspur Street is a short thoroughfare in the City of Westminster, London, which links Trafalgar Square to Pall Mall, The Haymarket and Pall Mall East. On 29 June 2007, a car containing significant amounts of explosives was found on Cockspur Street. It did not detonate...
to found the Rugby Football Union
Rugby Football Union
The Rugby Football Union was founded in 1871 as the governing body for the sport of rugby union, and performed as the international governing body prior to the formation of the International Rugby Board in 1886...
.
The club played its football at the Peckham Rye
Peckham Rye
For the rail station of the same name see Peckham Rye Railway StationPeckham Rye is an open space and road in the London Borough of Southwark in London, England....
.
It was not affiliated to the Rugby Football Union
Rugby Football Union
The Rugby Football Union was founded in 1871 as the governing body for the sport of rugby union, and performed as the international governing body prior to the formation of the International Rugby Board in 1886...
or the Scottish Football Union
Scottish Rugby Union
The Scottish Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in Scotland. It is the second oldest Rugby Union, having been founded in 1873, as the Scottish Football Union.-History:...
, because at this time neither body was in existence.
Foundation of London Scottish and disbandment
The club disbanded in 1878 after just ten seasons. Early that year three Scottish members of the team decided to break away to form their own club for Scots. These men, George Grant, Neil Macglashan and Robert Arnot attracted a number of responses to a circular they sent out. The London Scottish Regiment in particular were very warm to the idea. Very soon after, on April 10, 1878, London Scottish were formed. They had a sizeable fixture list and played some of the leading clubs of the time immediately, such as Ravenscourt Park Football ClubRavenscourt Park Football Club
Ravenscourt Park was a short lived 19th century rugby football club that was notable for being one of the twenty-one founding members of the Rugby Football Union, as well as producing a number of international players in the sport's early international fixtures.-History:Ravenscourt Park was founded...
and Queen's House Football Club
Queen's House Football Club
Queen's House was a 19th century rugby football club that was notable for being one of the twenty-one founding members of the Rugby Football Union, as well as producing a number of international players in the sport's early international fixtures.-History:...
. They also played St Andrew's Rovers that season. St Andrew's, who had lost the core of their best players lost twice to London Scottish and folded at the end of the season.